Electric switch



April 26, 1927. 1,626,165

H. A. SPAHR- ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 19. 1926 'OIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII v15 all) Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES HOWARD A. SPAHR, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed April 19, 1926. Serial No. 102,963.

This invention relates to electric switches.

Objects of this invention are to provide a switch which is applicable to a great variety of uses, such as a limit switch, a tell tale switch on elevators for indicating the location of the car, for an up and down switch, a door switch for use on automobiles, as a stop or direction switch, and in fact, numerous other uses.

Further objects are to provide a switch which is adapted to be actuated either manually or by means of a cam, which is so con structed that it is double actuating and will. indicate the direction from which the cam approaches, and to provide a switch which may be locked in inoperative position, and WhlCh will yet slide out cam without binding and without any undesirable results.

Further objects are to provide a switch which is of extreme simplicity. which has a minimum number of parts and which has a novel mode of operation for permitting the movable member of the switch to move under the influence of the cam either to actuate the switch members or else to merely move without actuating such members.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the switch, such view corresponding to a section on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the switch.

Figure 4: is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings. it will be seen that the switch comprises a casing 1 which may be stamped from sheet metal, and which is provided with outwardly I turned apertured feet whereby the switch may be con 'veniently attached to the desired support. This switch is provided with a circular aperture 3 through its front wall and with an elongated slot 4 through its rear wall. A plunger 5 is carried in these apertures, such plunger preferably has an enlarged portion 6 which operates in the aperture 3, and which is equipped with a rounded outer head 7. The collar 8 is secured to the portion 5 inside the front wall and has its. flat face forced against the inner side of the front wall by means of the spring 9, such spring bearing at its front end against the enof the way of the larged head, and at its rear end against the front face of the front wall.

This switch is adapted to be actuated in same time, there is a rearward sliding motion imparted to the plunger 5.

This plunger is adapted to close either of two sets of contacts, for example. one set comprises a stationary contact 11see Figure 2and a movable contact 12. The movable contact is preferably made of a piece of sheet metal and carries an insulating pad or plate 13 on its under side, such insulating pad being adapted to be engaged by the portion 5 of the plunger. These'contacts are carried by screws or bolts 14 suitably insulated from the metal. Further, a similar pair of contacts is provided for the under side of the switch and comprises the stationary contact 11 of the movable contact 12.

A convenient way of holding the insulating plates or strips 13 in position on the inner side of the movable contact members is as follows: The end of the appropriate contacting member is folded over each, incicated at 15, and thus clamps the end of the insulating strip in place. The other end of the insulating trip is secured by means of a rivet 16 or other suitable member.

In the normal operation of the switch, the cam strikes the enlarged head and deflect-s the plunger, thus closing one or the other side of the switch, depending on the direction of the cam.

It is to be noted that the pressure of the spring 9 and the action of the relatively wide collar 10 is such as to restore the plunger to its lower or central position as shown in full lines in Figure 1.

It may be desirable, under certain conditions, to lock the plunger in inoperative position. This is readily accomplished by the construction shown in detail in Figures 3 and 4. This latch comprises a sliding plate 17 provided with slots 18 guided by pins 19. This sliding plate is provided with a transverse slot 20 which. normally permits the up ward or downward rocking of the plunger. It is provided also with a lateral slot 21 which is adapted to receive the plunger when it is in its central position, and thus restrain it from either up or downward motion. However, when the plunger is so restrained no harm is done when the cam strikes it as the plunger directly slides rearwardly without tilting, and thus merely compresses the spring 9.

It may be further convenient to turn outwardly the end of the sliding latch 17 to form a manipulating ear 22 as shown particularly in Figure l. Further, one of the pins 19 may carry a spring 23 for forcing the corresponding end of the latch yieldinglv against the rear face of the casing 1 as shown in Figure l. The latch is provided with a depressed tongue or tit 24: which is adapted to snap into either of the two apertures 25 to thus yieldingly lock the latch against inadvertent sliding motion from one extreme position to the other.

It will be seen that an extremely simple type of double acting switch has been provided wihich is so constructed that a single spring and a single plunger serve for the actuation of the electrical contacts. It will be seen further that this spring also maintains the plunger in neutral position when it is not actuated.

It is to be noted further that the parts of the switch may be very cheaply produced, and that the switch has minimum number of parts. Consequently, there is very little likelihood of the switch getting out of or der, and it will be noted further that all of the electrical parts are wholly enclosed. in a metal casing.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim:

An electrical switch comprising :1 cas ing having a circular aperture in its front wall and having a slot in its rear wall a cylindrical plunger pivotally and slidably passing through said aperture and having its rear end slidably positioned within said slot, a head carried by the outer end of said plunger, a spring bearing against said head and against the front wall, a collar carried by said plunger and contacting with the inner face of said front wall, pairs of electrical contacts mounted within said casing and adjacent the rear portion of said plunger and adapted to be closed by said plunger when said plunger is rocked, and a latching plate carried adjacent said slot and adapted to lock said plunger against rocking motion while permitting sliding motion.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State 015 Wisconsin.

HOWARD A. SPAHR. 

